Water vehicle



Oct. 18, 1966 G. R. MOORE ET AL 3,279,417

' WATER VEHICLE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 ZSheets-Sheet 1 FIG-3 INVENTORS Mu. 14M 0. HANSON BY i424.

ATTORNEY GMY ROBAERT Mocks Oct. 18, 1966 G. R. MOORE ET AL 3,279,417

WATER VEHICLE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG5 INVENTORS. 641?) Rose!" Mace: WILLIAM G. HANSON ATTORNEY United States Patent G 3,279,417 WATER VEHICLE Gary Robert Moore, 805 N. Main, Clawson, Mich., and William 0. Hanson, 10034 Kingston, Huntington Woods, Mich.

Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 409,023 7 Claims. (Cl. 115-70) This invention relates to a buoyant water vehicle adapted to be powered by an outboard motor and steered by an operator for sport purposes.

Broadly, the invention comprises a floating hull which has a propelling motor, preferably of the outboard variety, supported centrally therein and rotatably with respect to the hull. The device is adapted to be steered by a rudder which is supported on the lower side of the hull and is controlled by a tiller which attaches to the upper end of a rudder post. An operator preferably stands on the hull and grasps the tiller to steer the boat. The operator may also control the speed of the motor and may engage or disengage the rotatable motor support so that the motor is either locked with respect to the hull or freely rotatable with respect thereto.

The device is used for water sports in broadly the same classification as water skiing. The operator may start the motor and allow the device to accelerate while the motor is locked with respect to the hull. He may then steer the device through the tiller and rudder. A rotation of the tiller out of a path parallel to the direction of motion of the vehicle will cause the vehicle to turn in much the same way as a normal boat. The operator may also release the motors rotatable support so that the hull rotates freely of the motor. Then, a rotation of the rudder will cause the craft to continue on its original path but will rotate the hull with respect to the motor. By again locking the motor against rotation after thus rotating the hull the operator may again gain control of the motor so that he is positioned at some different angle with respect to the motor and the direction of the craft.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, which will subsequently be disclosed in detail, employs a circular hull which is preferably formed of a foamed plastic material. The upper and lower surfaces of the hull taper in a convex curve from a maximum thickness at the center to a minimum thickness at the edges. A central circular aperture is formed in the hull and a circular rail is fitted within the aperture. Radial steel reinforcing members extend from separated points on the rail toward the edges of the foam hull. The center rail rotatably supports a platform member which carries a generally vertical transom member. The transom member is adapted to support an outboard motor so that the propeller of the motor extends downwardly beyond the lower edge of the central aperture and the upper end of the motor is supported adjacent to the upper surface of the disc. An internally toothed gear member is supported in the central aperture just above the rail. A bolt member is supported on the rotatable plate and is adapted to engage one of the teeth of the gear member when the bolt is extended. When this occurs, the plate and the motor are then locked against rotation with respect to the hull. When the bolt is retracted, the outboard motor is free to rotate within the aperture without exerting forces other than minimal friction forces against the hull. The device is steered by a conventional rudder which extends below the disc and is connected by a rudder post to a handlebar-like tiller which projects above the base. Manual controls on the tiller are connected to both the rotation locking bolt and to the throttle of the motor.

The preferred embodiment of the vehicle preferably carries a single operator who stands at a point radially outward of the rudder post. The operator grasps the two bars of the rudder post so as to steer the rudder and also control the speed of the motor and the -locking action. By properly manipulating the rudder and controlling the speed and the locking support of the motor a wide variety of interesting effects may 'be achieved as noted above.

It is therefor seen that a primary object of the present invention is to provide a water vehicle including a hull and a motor support which is rotatably supported with respect to the hull, as well as means for locking the motor support against rotation with respect to the hull.

Another object is to provide such a vehicle in which an operator controlled rudder is disposed at a point on the hull separated from the motor support so that the hull, with or without the motor, may be steered.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the hull is disc shaped and the motor is centrally supported therein and the rudder is supported radially outward from the motor.

Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with an operator supported thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the water vehicle with certain areas shown by hidden lines for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the device without an operator;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed top view of the central motor support; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevation sectional view through the motor support taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings the preferred embodiment of the present invention is built around a hull generally indicated at 10. The hull is necessarily buoyant and is preferably formed of a foamed plastic material such as polyurethane or polystyrene. Alternatively, it might be formed of a waterproof skin attached to a suitably shaped framework.

The hull 10 should have sufficient buoyancy to maintain the device in the water with the water level approximately at the edge 16, when the hull is loaded with a motor and an operator.

The hull 10 is generally disc shaped and includes an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 14, both of which are convex and slope down from a maximum thickness at the center of the disc to a thin edge 16. The center of the disc is formed with a circular aperture 18. In the preferred embodiment the aperture might be approximately 24 inches in diameter with the entire disc having a diameter of approximately 8 feet. The disc might have a thickness at its center of approximately 1 foot and the edge 16 might be approximately 4 inches.

The foamed disc 10 of the preferred embodiment is reinforced by four radially extending beams 20, 22, 24, and 26 which extend outwardly from spaced intervals about the perimeter of the aperture 18. The beam are preferably of channel section and three of the beams, 20, 22, and 24 extend outwardly approximately half of the distance from the aperture 18 to the edge 16. The radially outer edge of the fourth beam, 26, acts as one of the journals for the steering rod as will subsequently be disclosed. The reinforcing rods are preferably supported within the foam of the hull and the hull i formed about them.

The radially inward ends of the rods, 20, 22, 24, and 26 are welded to a steel ring 28 which is fitted-within the comprises a channel section molded within the hull. upper end of the post 62 is formed with a. handlebar-like "motor 48 for rotation with respect to the hull.

. cause the motor to appreciably turn.

shoulder 30. The lip 32 has an upturned extreme edge 34 so as to form a circular track.

This track supports a steel mounting plate 36 by means of three rollers 38, which are fixed at regular intervals to the perimeter of the plate 36 and extend radially outward therefrom on shafts 40 which are welded to the plate. The plate is circular except for a notch 42 formed in one of its sides. This notch is bordered by a transom plate 44 which is welded to the plate 36 and extends upwardly therefrom at an angle slightly less than the normal. The transom plate extends over the notch 42.

As is best seen in FIGURE 2 an outboard motor 48 is adapted to be supported on the transom 44 with its shaft 50 extending downwardly through the notch 42 and beyond the lower side of the hull 14. In this manner the motor 48 is rotatably supported with respect to the hull on the plate 36 which is free to rotate with respect to the hull.

The plate 36 may be locked to the hull so as to prevent rotation of the motor 48 by means of a bolt mechanism 51 which is fixed to one edge of the plate 36. The mechanism supports a bolt 52 which may be advanced or re- 'tracted with respect to the mechanism. When it is in its advanced position, it is adapted to engage one of the teeth of an internal gear 54 which is supported on the shoulder 30. The teeth of the gear 54 are thus disposed entirely around the center of the aperture 18 and bolt 52 engages in a tooth cavity so as to lock the plate 36 against rotation when the bolt is extended. The extension or retraction of the bolt is effected by a wire cable 58 which -is controlled in the manner which will be subsequently noted. The wire cable is supported away from the motor by a rod 59 which extends upwardly from the center of the plate 36.

The vehicle is steered by means of a rudder 60 which extends from the lower side of the hull and is fixed to the end of a rudder post 62 which passes through the hull 10 in the direction normal to the plane of the hull. The post 62 is journaled in a bearing 64 which is retained between the radially outward end of the rod 26 and the inward end of rod extension section 66. Section 66 also The tiller -68 whch terminates in two handlebar ends. The handlebar ends are equipped with grippers 70 and 72 which connect to the ends of two cables 58 and 74. As

.has been noted, the cable 58 controls the bolt 52 while stand on the perimeter of the upper hull 12 radially outward from the rudder post 62 and may support himself on the vehicle by grasping the handlebars 68. When the outboard motor 48 is started in some manner that is dependent upon the construction of that motor, the vehicle will begin to move in a direction dependent upon the orientation of the motor. Assuming that the bolt 52 is extended so as to lock the plate 36 and the motor 48 with respect to the hull, the operator may then control the motion of the vehicle by steering the rudder 60. This will cause the hull 10 and the motor 48 to change direction.

-The operator may also release the bolt 52 by proper energization of the handle grips and thereby free the When this occurs, manipulation of the rudder '60 will no longer Rather it will cause the hull to rotate about the motor while the vehicle .continues moving in the direction dependent upon the original orientation of the motor. This phenomenon makes a wide variety of interesting maneuvers available to the operator of the vehicle. For example, he may initially be in the position of FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein the vehicle is moving in the same direction which the operator is facing. By first actuating the cable 58 so as to release the bolt 40 and free the motor 48 for rotation, and then manipulating the rudder 60 so that the hull makes, say, a degree rotation with respect to the motor, the operator is then in a position Where he may again lock the motor with respect to the hull, at which time he is facing at 90 degrees to the path of motion of the vehicle. An endless number of similar interesting maneuvers may be performed with a vehicle of this type.

It should be recognized that other forms of motor support and hull structure might be employed in other embodiments of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A device of the type described, including: a hull formed of foamed plastic material having a disc shape with a central axial aperture and convex upper and lower sides; a circular track supported within said central aperture; a motor support plate arranged for rotation on said track; a transom fixed to said motor support plate and extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the disc; a gear fixed within said aperture; a bolt mechanism fixed to said motor support plate and having a first position wherein it engages said gear so as to stop the motor support plate against rotation with respect to the hull, and a second position wherein it allows rotation of the motor support plate with respect to the hull; a rudder post extending through said hull in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the hull; a rudder fixed to the lower end of said rudder support plate; a handlebar mechanism fixed to the upper end of said rudder support plate; and means on said handlebar for controlling the bolt mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the bolt mechanism consists of a wire cable having one end connected to the bolt mechanism and the other end supported on the handlebar and attached to a grip mechanism.

3. A water vehicle comprising:

(a) a hull having a disc-shape with a central axial aperture,

(b) a circular track supported within said central aperture,

(c) a motor support plate arranged for rotation on said track,

(d) a transom fixed to said motor support plate and extending generally perpendicular to the plane of said disc,

(e) gear means fixed within said aperture,

(f) means fixed to said motor support plate and having a first position engaging said gear so as to stop the motor support plate against rotation with respect to said hull, and a second position wherein its dis engages from said gear to allow rotation of the motor support plate with respect to said hull,

(g) a rudder post extending through said hull in a diilectlion generally perpendicular to the plane of said (h) a rudder fixed to the lower end of said rudder post,

(i) steering means fixed to the upper end of said rudder post, and means carried by said steering means for controlling said gear engaging means,

4. A water vehicle comprising (a) a flat hull having a central aperture,

(b) a motor support means and means mounting said support means for rotation with respect to said hull,

(c) a motor carried by said support means and extending downwardly through said central aperture and below said hull,

(d) means associated with said hull and said support means and having a first position providing locking engagement between said support means and said hull so as to stop the support means against rotation 7. The structure of claim 4 wherein said hull is formed with respect to said hull, and a second position of a foamed plastic material.

wherein it disengages the locking connection between said support means and said hull to allow rotation References Cited y the Examine! of said support means with respect to said hull, (e) a rudder supported below said hull at a point displaced from said support means, and ggg 114.422 X (f) means for steering said rudder. 4 4120 7/1958 Nelsn 5. The vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein the hull is generally circular in shape. 10 FOREIGN PATENTS 6. The vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said means 545,046 3/1956 Belgium for locking and unlocking the support means with respect to the hull comprises an internally toothed gear fixed with MILTON BUCHLER Primary E i respect to the hull and a lock bolt retained on said sup- T M BLIX A E port and being operative to selectively engage and dis- 15 sslsmm xammer' engage with the teeth of the gear. 

4. A WATER VEHICLE COMPRISING (A) A FLAT HULL HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE, (B) A MOTOR SUPPORT MEANS AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR ROTATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID HULL, (C) A MOTOR CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID CENTRAL APERTURE AND BELOW SAID HULL, (D) MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HULL AND SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A FIRST POSITION PROVIDING LOCKING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID HULL SO AS TO STOP THE SUPPORT MEANS AGAINST ROTATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID HULL, AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN IT DISENGAGES THE LOCKING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID HULL TO ALLOW ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS WITH RESPEFCT TO SAID HULL, (E) A RUDDER SUPPORTED BELOW SAID HULL AT A POINT DISPLACED FROM SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND (F) MEANS FOR STEERING SAID RUDDER. 